Brazil’s National Data Protection Authority (ANPD) issued an order requiring Discord to suspend its livestreaming capability following an investigation into the death of a 13-year-old girl. The authority determined that individuals within a Discord server pressured the teenager to take her own life through the platform’s messaging and communication features.
The ANPD initiated its investigation on August 7 and identified significant gaps in Discord’s content moderation infrastructure. According to the authority’s findings, the platform lacks real-time access to livestream content, preventing the deployment of automated systems to detect violations and harmful activity. Discord’s livestreaming feature, known as “Go Live,” enables users to broadcast video and audio content to others in real time within group servers.
Discord acknowledged receiving the suspension order and stated it is carefully evaluating the directive while reaffirming its commitment to user safety. The company’s representative noted that the private, invite-only server involved was investigated and shut down shortly after its creation. Discord also emphasized that evidence gathered during the investigation showed criminal activity was organized on other platforms prior to the server’s establishment and continued after individuals were removed from Discord.
The suspension order requires compliance within three business days, with Discord able to file an appeal within ten business days. The platform faces potential fines up to 50 million reais ($9.67 million) per violation. The ANPD stated that the livestreaming suspension will remain in effect until Discord demonstrates it has implemented adequate protective measures for minors, which may include age verification mechanisms. Five teenagers have been arrested in connection with the girl’s death, and law enforcement investigations remain ongoing.
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